Well I will be getting some surprise money soon...question is which way to spend it. I will have enough to get a 1892 cc morgan in mint state for my collection, or get 100 ounces of silver bullion. I want to make money on my investment long term and both offer that. Bullion is the easy choice in case I need fast funds in an emergency, but the the thought of a truly hard coin in a higher grade would be hard to pass up. My question is more of a what if... If you had to choose between bullion or a high grade coin for your set which would you choose and why?
Well, as much as I personally dislike bullion, I would go with it given your two options, unless the coin you found was a nice match to the remainder of your set. Having one mismatched coin drives me nuts, and I prefer (though rarely seem to do it...) to collect coins and grades within my means. I could certainly buy this particular coin in upper MS condition but my collecting budget would restrict me from completing a set in the near future with coins such as the 1893 S, 1889 CC, 1892 O, 1892 S, etc.. That said, if this were my decision, I would choose option 3 and base off my current collection so I could continue working towards completing something reasonable for now. You can always upgrade your collection at a later date. I have done just that with my Lincoln Wheat collection. I first assembled a higher end circulated grade and am now working on a near top end MS RD set. A complete MS RD set will end up costing me an amount I could not have fathomed spending when I completed my XF-AU set.
How is it surprise money if you know your getting it? I don't believe in high grades so I suppose I'd go with bullion. Had you posted this in the bullion forum I could have listened to some wallstreet Info- commercials first. That's always so special.
Why not go half and half? You could spend half the money on a different collectible coin that you can still enjoy owning, and the other half on silver if that will make you feel secure about the need for liquidity.
So, at today's silver price you're looking at about $1600 "surprise" money. First I would consider my silver dollar collection GOAL! all mint state? or XF-AU set? or other grade? Your choice. Consider this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1892-CC-Mor...758460?hash=item21048530fc:g:DTAAAOSwd0BV5m2k And you'd still have over half your surprise money left over. Just a thought.
Use the rule of supply and demand. What has low supply and high demand today may not tomorrow. That lowers the value of your purchase, coins or bullion. By a higher grade coin to fit you collection and buy some bullion spreading the investment so all your eggs are not in one pot. Or buy one high grade coin, in the best grade you can get and sit on it for a lifetime. Either way you're more likely to become a winner.
My registry set is missing a 1928-P Peace Dollar in MS64 grade. I say you "pay it forward" and donate to my worthy cause! In all seriousness, you're asking "people on a forum" to give you financial advice and predict the future. My best advise, make sure your bills are paid first. Pay off any credit cards or loans with it. If all that is paid up, then go with your gut instinct.
Silver is very attractive right now and may be even more cheap in the coming weeks but I'm not entirely convinced of that. Right now PM's are acting like a drag racer at the starting line, revving and waiting for the green light. If you're thinking about long term the safe bet is bullion, or what I buy, semi-numi bullion. Basically you answered your own question by posing it as one of investment. Silver is the better choice for long term future gains!... just imagine if a new Redfield hoard of all ms 92cc morgans is unleashed. When Saddle Ridge was released there were more than a few investor/collectors that wish those cans would've stayed burried!
PCGS MS-64 Peace $1.00-going for about $5,000.00. Save those pennies, it all adds up. Fortunately for me, I have this one. I am however, still missing 4. Hard to find and still expensive but not like this one.
One of those choices derives its' value solely from metal content. The other derives its' value from scarcity and collector demand. I know which I'd choose.
Brett makes a grand point about investing: pay off your debts first, especially credit cards. With all forms of investment returning very low returns, I think one is better off by first ridding themselves of that high-interest rate debt. Otherwise, your investment returns unsuccessfully chase after your debt. IMHO
Exactly the reason to NOT pay the crazy high prices for the better coins. There are a LOT of caches out there to be found as long as the bulldozer boys don't push them out into the woods or further under!....
I don't like to collect conditional rarity coins for just this reason. Over the next 20 years or so many people will start kicking the bucket that lived through the treasury releases era and people that hoarded silver ever since the 1964 switch. There's got to be many out there. Especially with morgans. It's just like with ww2 items. Ever wonder why it became a hot subject matter to collect in the last 10ys or so? Same reason, mass availability of quality items gi's brought back and now they're passing and the kids don't want dad's old military stuff when they see the prices it will bring
Buy bullion if you like precious metals as an investment to make money. Buy collectible coins if you like collecting coins as an enjoyable hobby.
A good ms 64 28 peace can be bought for around a grand not 5. I got my type set peace (a toned 28 now with a green bean) for under a grand
My mistake. I was thinking of the MS-65 I have. I looked at it last night, $4500.00 and up. $1300.00 is about right for a PCGS MS-64.